Valve for air-compressors.



G, M. RICHARDS. VALVE FOR micownessons.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20| I914.

Pat ented Dec. 25,1917.

"3 SHEETS-SHEET1.

l vuiN-ron WITNESSES w.

A'ITORNEY "1) IRULAMMLIX,

L LMLL 03AM.

G. mcmmna VALVE FOR AIR COMPHESSORS.-

APPLICATION-FILED AUG-20,19l4. 1,251,420. Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I 5O 42' 4f 49 g8 7 Q1 45 INVENTOR A'FI'ORNEY G. M. RICHARDS.

VALVE FOR AIR COMPRESSORS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20;1914.

1,251,426. Patented Dec. 25,1917.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3- Z 2 z 6 3 43 g 56 12L? I |Q }1 @jify-EREY GEORGE E. RICHARDS, 01 PHEADELPHIA. IENNSYLVANIA.

vamm son sm coiarnnissons.

ass-1.420.

Application filed Au gnlt 20, 1914. Serill R0. 857,790.

-To all'uihom it may concern:

- Beit known that I, Gnome M. RICHARDS, a citizen of the -United States, residing at 4438N; 15th St., Philadelphia, in the county I b ofPhilad'elphia and State of Pennsylvania,

'thave invented a] certain new and useful --Valve for Air Coinpi-essors", of which the following is a specification.

My invent'on-relates to valves capable of asset thesinlet and discharge ends of air com cylinders; a v

" 10f; my invention are to yalve against strains; maintain m timessprs'gth valves reliably ainstlthei'r seats by; eanseoiiperatin wit the chem neled struc which-{space} at preferably;removable valvc'unit for the furthe'r' purpose"of guidingythe valves, co-

this purpose with flanges at eitvalve; increase the circum- L I xtcntbf valv'e opening; keep the 'clearance of=- th'e ivalvc low; supply separately movable closures for" different valve iopeningsfallow movement of oscillation or {rotation of thefl'difl'erent valves independently of 'eaehothe r; cup the engaging faces of the valves'between the valve edges so that the" projectingportions only need be finished; place stiffening flangesin line with the engaging-valve edges; and, insnch a structure, muke the valve seat accessible for finishing tothebest advantage;

F urthcr purposes of my invention will appear in the specification and are set out in the several claims thereof.

l have preferred to illustrate my invention by forms thereof which, in practice, have proved to he practicable, efficient and inexpensive and which at the same time well illustrate the ]')|'in(-'iples of my invention.

Figure 1 is accntrnl longitudinal section of an air compressor cylindcr,tuken through the inleta'nd discharge ports.

. Fig. lie :1 central section through the axis of the discharge valve shown at the right hand in Fig. 1 with a portion of the cylinder adjoining.

upon the lines 33 and 4-4 respectively, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections correspondinyi tobut of Fig. 2, showing a sccoml'form o ni ,'invention,,with partsin dificrent p'ositiotis.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Ian ofjyfac'e for'theivalve at all;

e of-tthe va ve; utilize posts basehmember'and a cap of a- Figs. 3 and" 4 are seotlons of Fig. 2 taken Patented ec. 25, 1917.

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections of Fig. 5 taken uponthe-lines 7-4 and 8--8 respectively, looking in the directionsof the arrows.

Figs 9 and lOare central sections through the axis of the inlet valve shown in Fig. 1, with a partof the cylinder adjoining, the parts being in different positions.

F1gs."11 and 12 are sections of Fig. 9 taken upon lines -11-11 and 12-42, respectively, looking in the directions of the arrows. 1

Similar numerals of reference indicate i Pa s in the drawings.

Wherelight material, such as sheet metal,

is utilized for a valve and the same sheet is mtended to close a. number of independent valve openings at diil'erent distanoifronn the center or along the length of the sheet,

difficulty-is experienced notonlv in" securing anfabsolutely flat sheet or plate for cooperation) with the several valve seats, but

In maintaining it against distortion and in maintaining the seats within the same plane for cooperation with it. For thisreason I" have preferred to use separate: valve" clo sures for separate valve openings.

In. the forms shown, my valves'are of; circular contour and this is quite desirable,

because of the free shifting, circumferentially permitted with this form of'valve, which may even move completely about its axis without interference with the valve ac- -tion; but this form of valve is not essential,

in that some of the advantages of my invention would be obtainable with other contours of valve opening.

I have shown my invention as appiied to the discharge and inlet valves of an air compressor cylinder 1', having water cooling space 2 and heads 3 and 4- and containing piston 5 and piston rod 6.

For convenience l will describe the invention as applied to cylinder ports or openiugs against which removable valve units arc-clumped or secured, ouch valve unit cur rying both the valve seats and the cooperating valve structure.

Both of the ports or openings 7 are provided with Sealing faces 8, here shown as annular and as located at the side of the cylinder. for the receptionof the rcumvnhlevalve units. These faces are engaged by corresponding annular edge faces 9 of the removable valve units 10 and 10 providing inlet and discharge for the cylinder. These valve units mav be inserted and vvitlwrlrnwn -r unit 10' communicates with a discharge H bered.26,127 and 28- 1.-

gether and pressed against the sealing faces 8. Air passes through Openings 17 inplug 13into the space 18about the valve unit lO, while the space 19 about the discharge valve pipe 20. I v

The structures of the two valve units are similar but the valves face oppositely with of the other. 7'

Taking up the discharge valve, first The. valve is made upfunctionally of four main arts, namely, the base 21 carrying; the va ve seats and certain spacing and supsts hereinafter described,--j: the

meat iiif, position. and the means for The engagement of sage" These-Va ve openings are ofannular contour and extend t which the several adjoining rin' 33 are connected and supporte bout ,thebase at any suitable intervals are located a seriesof posts 34, and 36,

31, 32 and which in the form shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are rigidly 'att ached'to andjpreferably integral with the 'base, rising from the rings 31, 32 and 33 to engage with the cap or a cover annulae along any parts of theannularsurfaces as 37, 38 and 39 for'the purpose of transmitting prcssurejfrom the cap or cover member to the base and affording a firm and even rest for the cap or cover. 7

The width of the posts 34, 35 and 36 is less than the width of the rings upon which they rest or with which they arei integral, in order that the edges of the rings 31, 32 and 33 may be available as valve seats, arranged in circular pairs 40 and 41, 42 and 43 on opposite sides of the respective annular valve openings and the singleseat 44, for coiiperation with corresponding valve edges upon the valves'22, 23 and 24.

ently clos ng the, valves, heresprings mm;

face 9 of basel21 with a y the contact face ofthe' cylinder, previously indicated; completely closes the porter open ing 7' into'thefcylinder at this pointexeept asvalveiepenin may be freeforai'r paspreferably roughout- 5' V the entire circumferenceexceptfas they are necessarily interrupted byfties29 and 30 by v the'sprin'gs 26, 27 and 28 to. suitablerec'esses s within & the cover ring will' continue to" 3 'th'ejc 'anneled sides tithe The valves are separate in order that there may be separate movement of the valves both toward and from theseats and, as wear may determine, in circular movement about the seats, thex'f reedom of movement in this direction coiiperating both to avoid unevenness of wear a'nd to facilitate coeperation of the parts toward tightening the joint as long as possible where wear has already taken The outervalves illustrated are'similar nulae and the inner valve is of cup formaf edges? shown t; 45, 46, 45', 46, was the tion, cooperating with a single circular valve 7 Mammy." the result that the valve seats are carried by the base of one and by the cap or cover' purpose ,gf giving stiffnes to the annulae and a cup jand i;where they arein line with the edges, fortlie further purpose of coiiperatin with the adjoiningt'sidei surfa of n posts-1,34 i annulus i htl'y' depressedfor grooved annularly ur a w te finishing;

lvesi are pressed,

obviously, .the

5 {valves notwithstandinfi thati the valv es may move circumferentia The :space located circumferentially: 'be;

tween the; outer posts 34 istopen-andethe" rtur'ed'as at 47,-

cover may likewise be a 47 forthe purpose of a1 owing free egress for the'discharged air into the space 10'.

In the form shown in Figs. ,5, 6, 7 and 8, the parts, as well as the functionsof the parts, are intended to be identical with those shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, except for the fact that the posts 34', 35' and'36 are attached to or integral with the cover 25 and rest within preferabl annularly depressed spaces 48, 48' an 49 within the rings 31', 32', 33. Annular depressions result in annular relatively projecting valve seats 40', 41, 42, 43' and 44,"\vhich are also sates. savag flanges "i l efi ax ellyg' paus ng surflll ttfi fof the a vy ls IL I and 36 in: 'order x torgnidethe leave assesses 'fo'nthe, of reducing the amountof hich mustibe jfinished to a lane; a

ib s'ame timereducing the] 7 106 which are adaptedgreadilyacccssihle for finishing operations;

- .shown in Figs. an

in closed positn, the illustrations-m Fi 6 and 10 show the valve as open and rea y for reverse movement.

i In Figs. 9 to 12 I have illustrated my in.- let valve which applies the same general principles as those set forth, but in which, to reduce the clearance upon the side toward the -cylinders, I have reversed the faces which .are operative as valve faces, utilizing the stiflening fianges or edges for that purpose and, for the same reason, use a tension spring and spider for valve return instead of the compression springs prefer-red in my discharge yalves.

The base 50 is apertured at any suitable places, 51; 52, for the free passageof the inlet air carries a plurality of posts 36', corresponding, generally, to the posts not carry the valve seat in this form and corresponds more nearly to the cap or cover of Figs. 5 and 6). Because the valves are made efiective at the outer end of this ba'se, the edge is extended at 53 in the form of acylinder instead of by spaced posts such as are' shown at 34'. In order to relieve the valves 22 from excessive engagement with; the

walls of this cylinder, the walls are cut away on the inside except for successive 'ositions corresponding to the posts 34 w are the walls pro'ect radially toward the center to form gui cs 53'. 1

Since the valve faces are the edges 54, 55, 54', 55, 54', I have not the under sides of the, valves in Figs. 8 and 10.

The posts .35 36 fit into corresponding annular recesses 56, 57 and the cylinder 53 fits into a recess or depression 58, the construction corresponding in general to the depression of the base in Fig. 7 and resulting in annular projections 40, 41', 42, 43 ,44 in the cap or cover which annular projec-, tions comprise the valve seats and are accessible for ready surfacing by a tool or stone passing over the entire surface in the same manner and to the same extent as are the annular recesses 40, etc., shown and described in connection with Figs. 7 and 8.

In order to reseat the valves after the have been opened, closing them to the POSI- tion shown in Fig. 9 from that shown in Fig. 10, I have preferred to use a tension spring member instead of a compression spring mmnher her-misc the tension member could be located upon the outside rather than upon the inside, requiring less inside space for the spring and reducing the clearance at this point.

The particular construction of spring which I have shown uses a single spring 59 for this purpose retaining the spring 6 (since the base doesagainst tension at one end by means of a bolt 60 and securing it to thevalve 24 and to aspider 61 by means of a bolt vand nut 62. This draws the central valve upwardly and the spider is .extended farenough to engage the several annulze 22" and 23' by spring fingers 63, 64 and draw them up to position at the same time. The fingers ermit the several valves to have slight reedom for independent axial movement so that each of the valves may accommodate itself to its 'own seat.

Thecap or cover of this valve is apertured freely, as at 63, 64 and 65 to allow free influx of air;

In operation In the forms shown in Figs. 2 to 8, the air compressed within the cglinder forces the valves outwardly along t eguiding-posts, actingindependently upon each valve; and each valve is independently closed b its springs when the pressure ceases. n the form shown in Figs. 9 to 12 i the atmosphericrgressure is effective to force the valves inwa l'y along the guiding posts, when a condition of vacuum exists in that end of the cylinder. All the valves are returned by the spring and spider.

It will be evident that the form in which my invention is embodied may be' varied greatly by the engineer or designer in view of the disclosures in this specification and that I should'receive the benefit of all such changes within'the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims herein. 1

It will be eviden that the channeling of the inlet valves, sh. I'm in Figs. 91012, has the client of. recessing the face of' these valves,-since the edges of the flanges, comprise the sealing edgesof the valves. The eflect is similar to that of the recessin of the under side of the valve parts in igs. 2 to 8 inclusive and produces the same advantage of reduction in theamount of surface to be finished. a

It will be evident that the ties 29 and 30, while crowing the annular valve openings, lie back of the edge valve seats and therefore form no interruption to the continuity of valve seat contour and little interrupt-ion to the flow of air through the valve at these points.

Having thus described my invention, what V r &

with separate channeled valves cooperating with the seats, guides for the valves extending from one of the members to the other within the space between the raised edge valve seats and resilient means 'for closing the valves. v j 3. In a device ofthe character stated, cap and base members-one of the members carrying relatively raised edge valve-seats above valveopenings and the other gnidin and spacing posts fittin .b etween the raise edge valve seats, in com ination with valves fitting the seats and guided by the posts.

4. In a device of the character stated, cap

and base members, one of the members having-edge valve seats about valve openings,- a 'channeled valve fitting against the seats and having the flanges of the ehannel'perpendicular tothe plane of the seats, in combination with guides for the valve extending from one of the members to the other in the In a devicefof space between the seats.-

ing and adjoimngfedge valve, seats, in combination w th an ;.annula1" valve .liaving an. annularly {recessed 1 face upon the, side to wardthe valve -aseats;l presenting projecting vzilveedges lguide direeting'the valve edges into "engagement"\vitlr the edge valve seats,

- afco ver, spa cing means between the cover and valve ,member; and spi'mgmeans for Sis pressing the lvalveiawaytroin'the cover.

- 6'. In a tlevi c'e of i the character stated, a] valve nemben presenting annular openmg and 'ad o1 n1'ng= edge valve seats, in combination \vith" an-f annular valve having a face upon the'side tovvard the valve 1 seats presenting projecting circular; valve edges,andcylindrleal flanges upon the edges.

I of the'valve on the-side away .from the seats,

a cover, spacin .base, posts projecting from said-'cover and resting upon the base between the annular seats, a valve guided by said posts and springs engaging the valve and cover to normally close the valve.

8. In a. device of the characterstated, a

valve base comprising spaced, rings, connected at intervals, forming at central opening and outer annular openings, having edge val-v'e scatsad onnng the openings, in combinatlon w1tha central cupped valve and ed at intervals, forming a central opening he character stated, a valve member present ng an annular openseats;

means bet-ween the cover, and. valve mem er and spring means for the flanges.

annular adjoining valves cooperating with the valve seats and recessed upon the valve faces to provide projecting annular valve edges.

9. In a device of the-character stated, a valvebase comprising spaced rings connectat and outer annular openings, having. edge valve seats adjoimng the ope'mngs, n com ,bination -with a central cupped valve and-"5 annular adjoining valves cooperating'ivith the vnlveseats and recessed upon the valve faces to provide projecting annular valve edges and axially extending flanges upon tllB'OPPOSltG sides of the valves in ine with the extended edge valve portions. 4 v

10. In a device of the character stated, a valve base presenting rings connected at'intervals to leave annular valve openings and a central valve opening anded e valve seats adjoining the openings in com inationwith. I posts-forming guides, located in the {space ,aof. above said'rings and between theedgeival-ve seats, annular" channeled valves and agentra l cupped valve engaging with said seats and. guided b said posts and meansj for ref siliently hol ing thesevalves agains t'jtlie a5 1 1 ;In-a device'ofth'e character stited, fa '\,.lve-j1nenib'er presentnigwin annula M pening and adjoining edge'valve seats'jinjcorn-u; bination with an annnlar'valve of channeled cross sectionengaging the .edge val ve seats,

anda guide directing the edges of the'channel into engagement with the valve: sent-S, I i a I .Y,. a In a device at the character stated, a

valve member seating an annularQopen-t. ing-and adjoin'r edge valve seats, =jin' combination with an ahlltliad valve thei'efor, of channeled cross section, engagingthevalve seats and a guide for the valve directing the channel edges into. engagement with the edge valve seats.

" 13. In a device of the charaeterstated, a valve member presenting an annnlartopening and adjoining edge'valve seats, in co'm- .105 'bination with an annular valve having flanges on one side engaging'the-seats and a stitl'ening rib extending axially from the plane of the valve in proximity to each edge of the annulus but on the opposite side from GEORGE M. RICHARDS.

Witnesses: I

\V-nr. STULL JAoKson', S. Ihllanrna. 

